Super Cute

The Love Sponge

Jenny Pink explaining the facts of life to Suzie the Love Sponge. "See Suzie this is nice. I like it when you aren't wrapping your head around me. I think I've discovered our problem Suzie. You're an affection thief Suzie. Which means it isn't freely given, which means it isn't really love."

I am pretty sure Suzie doesn’t get it.

Here she is making out with Uncle Owen. He was forced to protect himself after a couple french kisses from the Love Sponge. 

Canning Addiction

I really am beginning to wonder if I have some sort of diagnosable illness when it comes to canning. Let’s use apples this year as an example: 

I picked a bushel of apples a few weeks ago because I heard it wasn’t a great year for apples around here and I kind of panicked. I did a small batch of applesauce on my own (although I have this nagging feeling someone was over doing it with me… maybe Fiona? I really can’t put a face on my helper right now- and it could well have been just me).

Where was I? Right. Canning apples.  I now have two regular canning crowds—I’ve had one canning crowd for years, with some additions and subtractions to that crowd, but it all evens out. And canning crowds are a tricky business. At some point, it is too many people in my kitchen and too much fruit to process at one time. So you can’t just do one big canning day and include everyone and your brother (literally)… it just isn’t efficient at some point (generally speaking more than 4 households of whatever we are canning is too much). So instead, I can in shifts with my two crowds. And strangely this isn’t some major inconvenience to me- I enjoy it. Spending time with people I love while doing a project I enjoy and getting yummy canned goods at the end really is a win win win!!

Last weekend, I went to visit Alexis and we canned sauce at her house, as recounted here and here. I really enjoyed spending the day with Karen and Lex and the cute baby, really catching up with each other while putting up applesauce for the family. (And it was kind of a thrill that the mess was all at her house instead of mine).  

Today was applesaucing with Donal and Lindsey (part of one crowd) and Owen and Fiona (who aren’t part of a canning crowd but are people I enjoy immensely). Good fun. We had pizza, irish pub songs, bad puns, and turned 3 bushels of apples into 40 quarts of applesauce in about 4 hours.

The other canning crowd is scheduled to come on Oct. 31st. I’ve done my applesauce already so I’ll just do theirs with them. And I am confident that will be great fun too!!

See what I mean? I’m starting to wonder if I should join some sort of 12 step group. “Hello, my name is Reenie. I can.”  “Hi Reenie.” 

Note: Don’t get me wrong- I don’t only can… I do tons of other stuff, but it does seem that maybe the canning is getting out of hand. But I’m still enjoying it…

And so ends the garden...

For two days there had been a tiny bit of frost on the grass. And then the weather report predicted a hard freeze last night.  So somewhere between lunch with my brother and dinner with my grandparents, I raced home to pick anything salvageable out of the garden. I even took a picture to post here-- except that I left my laptop in a different state last weekend, along with the necessary downloading tools and cords. Oh well, the picture will have to wait. Close your eyes and imagine this:

-- Two large bowls of green tomatoes
-- Two large bowls of peppers (bell and jalapenos)
-- A big bunch of basil

There are still a few carrots to dig up, some broccoli that probably won’t make it to the edible stage, and I’m sure the volunteer tomatillo plant is now frozen and over. Too bad they never got big enough to eat. 

The end of the garden is always brings such a mix of relief and sadness. It's a relief because at the end there, it can be a little overwhelming. And the weeds can get to the daunting stage. And yet, being in the garden is one of my favorite things about spring, summer, and fall... so it's sad to finish it up for the year-- knowing that winter is what stands between the garden and I until spring. Sadness. Although, I must say, without winter, I really don't think I would appreciate the rest of the season nearly as much as I do. 

So farewell dear garden. I'll see you again in the spring (and maybe to do some plant clean up this fall... if I get that far). 

Fall in Michigan

This is for my sister, who is missing fall in Michigan.  As I mentioned awhile ago, I decided to enjoy fall this year without thinking about winter. It is actually working quite well. And fall in Michigan is a beautiful thing. No way around it.

So here it is, sister dear. I’m missing you like crazy here in Michigan, and sharing some of my fall long distance. I love you!

Life is a zoo

Today we packed everyone into the minivans and headed for the Washington DC zoo. Some other friends met us there, including my hilarious godson, Henry, and his parents and sister. It was a gorgeous fall day and we all enjoyed the wildlife (both the toddlers and the zoo animals). Sometimes all you need is some quality time with buddies :)

Thanks for a great day buddies!!